Chloe brought her knees to her chest. “Both.” He bent his head to the side, his right top lip snarling upwards. “Why?” “I think they’re just a little worried.” "About what?” he looked down at Alecia. She hadn’t stirred. “Don’t get mad.” Chloe reached for his hand, but he pulled it away. “It’s just you act so different with her.” Ryder shook his head. “Is it the council?” "As far as we know, they haven’t asked decided to do anything,” Chloe said. "Good. I don’t want them spying on her.” He paused for a second and trailed every inch of Alecia's smoith face with his eyes. “It’s bad enough he spies on me.” The council was a group of very powerful werewolves who made laws for Alpha's. Somehow, people had been led to believe that Alpha's were all powerful, but of cause they weren't. How could they be when there were werewolves like his father, like the members of the council. They plotted, schemed, conspired, killed. They destroyed empires and created legacies. In the past he had never liked them, but then he had never hated them either. He had simply accepted them for what they were -- the powers that be. He didn't want those powers focusing their attention on Alecia “Don’t,” Chloe said. Ryder tapped his fingers on the floor. “Maybe you should stop being the council's favorite Alpha." Ashley said. “Not my idea.” “Where’s this going?” Chloe said. Ryder brushed a lock of Alecia's hair out of her face. It was going somewhere, but he didn’t know where. He had too many conflicting interests. But she could fit in. There was nothing about her that would fit perfectly with his father's plans, as much as he hated that. If the council agreed to turn her, she would make a good Luna. “I love her.” “But where’s it going?” Chloe asked again. He rubbed a tendril of hair in between his fingers, relishing the silkiness of it. “I don’t know. I just really want to be with her.” Chloe and Taylor both looked at each other with wide eyes, shaking their heads. They both probably thought he was crazy. He could just imagine the conversations Richard and his father were having right now about the girl who rested in his lap. But he didn’t care. He wanted her more than anything those two planned. “How much does she know about you?” his sister said, breaking into his thoughts. “She knows Richard and our father are close.” Chloe tilted her head to the side. “Does she know you’ve to call the council every time you leave the city? Does she know that they have plans for you? That they send spies to watch your every move?” Chloe leaned towards him, a sharpness in her eyes. “Does she know our father has plans for total werewolf domination someday?” "You know I can’t tell her that yet,” Ryder said. “Father would kill me.” “You’re not a normal guy.” "She knows that. And I’ll tell her the rest when it’s time.” “Okay,” Chloe replied, shaking her head. “I hope she doesn’t freak out.” “She’s a smart girl.” He paused for a second before he said, “I’m tired.” He took Alecia by the arms and pulled her up to his chest. “You two sleep in my room, and I’ll put her on the couch.” The girls went to his bedroom, closing the door. He lay Alecia down on the couch, watching the smooth rise and fall of her chest. She was deep in sleep. Her lips puckered slightly and very enticingly. This girl had no idea how crazy she could make a man. He kissed her lips, letting the kiss deepen more than she’d ever allowed, his hands exploring to where they had always wanted to go. His breath became short and he pulled from her. Better not go too far or he would never be able to stop. He stood. She would give in soon. He was already breaking her down. * * * Alecia wrapped her arms tighter around Ryder. The girls had left an hour ago and now they cuddled on the couch, watching a football game. Now she could relax. Since Taylor was nowhere around, she didn’t have to worry about them slipping back into each other’s arms. She buried her head into Ryder's shoulder, smelling the fresh scent of his shirt. She loved being in his arms. His right hand began stroking her side, a now familiar touch. She tried to focus on the game, but her thoughts slipped back to Taylor. Why did his sister and she really come down? To check her out. Ryder's fingers began to stray up her side, making her tense. She clenched the side of his shirt. His fingers reached to where she didn’t want them and began exploring. She should tell him to stop, but she couldn’t. What if he got upset and went back to Taylor, a girl who would give him all? A lump formed in her throat as his other hand caressed her leg. She would just let him touch her. There was nothing wrong with that. A warning from her youth pastor entered her thoughts. She pushed it away and concentrated on the feel of Ryder's warm breath as his lips caressed her neck. A tingling sensation spread through her. Just a little and nothing else.